UCLA Anderson Presents President of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee With Honor Named for Legendary Coach

BEVERLY HILLS -- In a moving tribute that honored both the evening's recipient and the late Coach John Wooden, UCLA Anderson School of Management presented the John Wooden Global Leadership Award to Peter V. Ueberroth, the visionary leader who transformed the modern Olympic movement, served as commissioner of Major League Baseball and as managing partner of The Contrarian Group led a group of investors in the purchase of the famed Pebble Beach golf course and resort.

Ueberroth is the fourth annual honoree of the John Wooden Global Leadership Award, joining Howard Schultz (Starbucks' chairman, president and CEO); Kenneth Chenault (American Express' chairman and CEO); and Frederick W. Smith, FedEx chairman and CEO as recipients of the leadership award.

The John Wooden Global Leadership Award, "honors a corporate leader who personifies the extraordinary standard of achievement, leadership and character," associated with Coach Wooden. The award recipient is said to serve as "a contemporary role model exemplifying business leadership skills, and a willingness to share this knowledge with the community, nation and the world" all while maintaining the standards associated with "Coach."

Ueberroth was selected as this year's recipient for global achievements that continue to produce positive impacts and were conducted in the same high standards of performance, integrity and ethical virtues set by legendary Coach Wooden.

Highlights of the evening included moving tributes to Coach John Wooden from UCLA gymnastics head coach Valerie Kondos-Field who was a close confidant of Coach Wooden; 1960 Olympic decathlon champion Rafer Johnson, who while a UCLA student played basketball for Coach Wooden and later lit the Olympic torch at the start of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games; and Keith Erickson, a member of two of Coach Wooden's ten national championship teams. Dean Judy Olian delivered an inspiring talk about how Coach Wooden's values are part of the Anderson curriculum and Tyler Trapani, John Wooden's great-grandson, spoke about the final game played in "old" Pauley Pavilion, where he scored the last basket ever by a UCLA Bruin player.

Following the tributes from Kondos-Field, Johnson and Erickson, Ueberroth joined NBC sportscaster Al Michaels for a lively conversation that reflected on the Ueberroth's storied career and relationship with Coach Wooden.

Proceeds from the event will fund John Wooden Global Leadership Student Fellowships. This year's recipients - who were recognized at the event - are Russell Altenburg, MBA class of 2012 and Valerie Sun, FEMBA class of 2013.

UCLA Anderson School of ManagementCelebrating 75 years of "business beyond usual," the UCLA Anderson School of Management is regarded among the leading business schools in the world. UCLA Anderson faculty members are globally renowned for their teaching excellence and research in advancing management thinking. Each year, UCLA Anderson provides a distinctive approach to management education to more than 3,600 students enrolled in its M.B.A., fully-employed M.B.A., executive M.B.A., UCLA-NUS Global Executive M.B.A., master of financial engineering, doctoral and executive education programs. Combining highly selective admissions, varied and innovative learning programs, and a worldwide network of 37,000 alumni, UCLA Anderson develops and prepares global leaders.